VMware vRealize Automation 8.6: Simplifying Cloud Management with ABX-Based Custom Resources

VMware has recently announced the upcoming release of VMware vRealize Automation 8.6, which introduces several enhancements and new features to streamline cloud management. One of the most significant additions is the ability to create and manage Custom Resources based on ABX actions. This feature allows for more flexibility in defining dynamic input fields within Cloud Templates and reusing them across multiple Property Groups.

In this blog post, we will delve into the new ABX-based Custom Resources capability and explore how it can simplify cloud management. We will also discuss how this feature can be used to execute Code Stream workspaces within Kubernetes environments, providing customers with more options for executing continuous integration pipeline containers.

ABX-Based Custom Resources: An Overview

With vRealize Automation 8.6, VMware is introducing the ability to create and manage Custom Resources based on ABX actions. This new capability allows you to define dynamic input fields within your Cloud Templates by directly interfacing with vRealize Orchestrator Actions. Previously, this could be accomplished by defining custom forms within Service Broker, but now the capability is integrated directly within Cloud Assembly.

The ABX-based Custom Resources include a Read operation, which replaces the functionality previously provided by the vRealize Orchestrator Dynamic Types. This means that you can pass local inputs as parameters into the vRealize Orchestrator Action, providing more flexibility in defining dynamic input fields within Cloud Templates.

Using ABX-Based Custom Resources: A Data Management Tanzu Use Case

One of the most significant benefits of the new ABX-based Custom Resources is their ability to simplify data management. With vRealize Automation 8.6, you can now define dynamic input fields within your Cloud Templates that are based on ABX actions. This allows you to pass local inputs as parameters into the vRealize Orchestrator Action, making it easier to manage your data.

For example, let’s say you have a Cloud Template that requires a parameter to be passed in from an external source. With the new ABX-based Custom Resources, you can now define this parameter as a dynamic input field within the Cloud Template. This allows you to easily pass the parameter into the vRealize Orchestrator Action, simplifying your data management processes.

Executing Code Stream Workspaces within Kubernetes Environments

Another significant addition in vRealize Automation 8.6 is the ability to execute Code Stream workspaces within Kubernetes environments. Previously, customers were required to use a standalone Docker host to execute continuous integration pipeline containers. However, this requirement was not well-liked by customers, and many requested that they be able to utilize existing Kubernetes environments to execute these pipeline containers.

With the new feature in vRealize Automation 8.6, customers can now execute Code Stream workspaces within Kubernetes. This works similarly to how the Docker capability worked, but with a few key differences. For example, you will define a Namespace where the container images will execute, whether to utilize a node port or a load balancer proxy to access this as well as persistent volume claims for data persistence.

Conclusion

VMware vRealize Automation 8.6 is a significant update that introduces several enhancements and new features to simplify cloud management. The ability to create and manage Custom Resources based on ABX actions is one of the most notable additions, providing more flexibility in defining dynamic input fields within Cloud Templates and reusing them across multiple Property Groups. Additionally, the ability to execute Code Stream workspaces within Kubernetes environments gives customers more options for executing continuous integration pipeline containers.

Overall, vRealize Automation 8.6 is a powerful tool that can help organizations streamline their cloud management processes and improve their data management capabilities. We recommend exploring these new features and seeing how they can benefit your organization.